Included: An experienced, local glacier hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area Guided sightseeing along the south coast, including Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Seljalandsfoss Round-trip pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík All specialized glacier gear — ice axe, crampons, harness, and helmet Minibus transport with free Wi-Fi Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout): Equipment rental (waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, hiking boots) Not included: Transportation to Iceland Meals and snacks Accommodation Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above Insurance — recommended, available at checkout Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join this glacier hike and south coast day tour, good fitness is required , though no previous hiking or glacier experience is needed . The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 6 km (3.7 mi), over uneven terrain with moderate elevation changes on the glacier itself. Footwear matters here: hiking boots with ankle support are required, and your shoe size needs to be EU 35 or larger, since crampons can’t be securely fitted to smaller footwear. It’s a long day covering a lot of ground, so expect a fair amount of time on the move between stops as well. Want to see what else is in the area? Discover more Iceland adventures here !

Which locations will we visit?

You’re in for a proper tour of the south coast! We start at Skógafoss , a 60 m (197 ft) waterfall you can feel the spray from, with the option to climb the 527 steps alongside it for the view from the top. From there it’s on to Reynisfjara , the black sand beach backed by dramatic basalt columns. The heart of the day is the four-hour hike on Sólheimajökull glacier itself, where you’ll spot dark ash bands in the ice left behind by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. We close things out at Seljalandsfoss , a waterfall you can actually walk behind in summer, before heading back to Reykjavík.

Do I need any glacier hiking experience?

No, this tour is beginner-friendly and open to first-timers. Good fitness is required, along with hiking boots with ankle support, and your shoe size needs to be EU 35 or larger so crampons can be securely fitted.

What do I need to bring?

Gear: Small day pack (20–30L) Water bottle (at least 1L) Clothing: Sturdy hiking boots (required for crampon use) Waterproof rain jacket and pants Warm mid-layers (fleece/wool) Hat and gloves Sunglasses Other: Snacks and lunch Camera or phone for photos (optional but highly recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing: For this glacier tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 19:1 . The maximum group size is set at 19 participants . Glacier hiking can be arranged for larger groups — contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18 , you’re good to go. Minors above the age of 8 may be permitted to join the glacier tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your glacier and waterfalls adventure is Reykjavik . To get there, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF) . From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Reykjavik. You will meet your guide at the designated pickup point in Reykjavik —we’ll reach out after booking to confirm the exact pick-up point. We can pick you up from a wide range of locations in Reykjavik to make your day as carefree as possible.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

South Coast | Iceland

Glacier Hike & South Coast Waterfalls: Day Tour From Reykjavík

Name: Glacier Hike & South Coast Day Tour From Reykjavík
Brand: 57hours
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (11 reviews)

1 day | Easy | 5.00

From $213 ()

Reserve now

Iceland’s south coast packs some of the country’s biggest landmarks into a single day: waterfalls you can feel from the road, a black sand beach framed by basalt columns, and a glacier tongue creeping down from one of the island’s most famous ice caps. On this day trip from Reykjavík, we take you through all of it, with hours spent walking on real glacier ice at Sólheimajökull, crampons and all. It’s a long day out, but it’s also the most efficient way to see the south coast’s headline sights and get a genuine taste of glacier travel—no previous experience required.

Adventure Highlights

Real glacier hiking, no experience needed: Spend about four hours walking Sólheimajökull’s ridges, crevasses, and moulins with a certified guide, roped up and fitted with crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet
The south coast's biggest sights in one day: The drive alone takes in Skógafoss’s 60 m (197 ft) drop and the black sands of Reynisfjara, two of the most photographed spots in Iceland
Small groups, everything handled: Pickup straight from Reykjavík, a minibus with Wi-Fi, and all glacier gear are included, so there’s nothing to arrange yourself

Duration

1 day

Season

Year-round

Group size

Up to 19 people

The adventure, day by day

Download itineraries

A 13 to 13.5-hour small-group day trip by minibus, with Wi-Fi on board and pickup and drop-off included at your Reykjavík location (pickup starts at 8 am, allow up to 30 minutes to collect everyone). The day's core stop is a four-hour, 6 km guided hike on Sólheimajökull glacier—your guide supplies all technical gear, so there's nothing to rent beforehand. Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, and Seljalandsfoss round out the route on the way there and back. Good fitness and hiking boots with ankle support are required; no glacier experience needed.

Day 1: What our day looks like

What our day looks like — Mountaineering in South Coast | Iceland

This 13 to 13.5-hour day trip covers Iceland’s south coast from Reykjavík and back, built around a four-hour guided hike on Sólheimajökull glacier. We pick you up around Reykjavík in the morning before driving out to Skógafoss and Reynisfjara black sand beach, then gear up for the glacier hike itself—about 6 km over ridges, crevasses, and moulins, with the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull still visible as dark ash bands in the ice. On the way back, we stop at Seljalandsfoss, one of the few waterfalls you can walk behind. All glacier equipment, a certified guide, and minibus transport with Wi-Fi are included, and no previous hiking or glacier experience is needed to join.

Duration: 13–13.5 hours
Meeting point: Reykjavík (exact pickup location confirmed at booking)

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Adventure, packed to go

Glacier Hike & South Coast Waterfalls: Day Tour From Reykjavík

Adventure Brochure

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What others say about this adventure

5.00 (11 reviews)

Jill B

Indra is a great guide! Knowledgable, friendly, great driver. Made the trip so interesting & fun. Recommend!

Mackenzie B

the best tour! so worth it!!

one of the best tours i have been on!! Lucky was so amazing and knowledgeable. we had plenty of time at each place and the views were just breathtaking. she also made sure we had everything we needed when we needed it and gave us good laughs

Francesca D

Arthur was a great guide for our trip! Super knowledgeable of the region and took us to such beautiful spots along the coast. Definitely would recommend this trip to anyone travelling to Iceland!

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Things to know

Included:
- - An experienced, local glacier hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - Guided sightseeing along the south coast, including Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Seljalandsfoss
  - Round-trip pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík
  - All specialized glacier gear — ice axe, crampons, harness, and helmet
  - Minibus transport with free Wi-Fi
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
- - Equipment rental (waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, hiking boots)
Not included:
- - Transportation to Iceland
  - Meals and snacks
  - Accommodation
  - Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above
  - Insurance — recommended, available at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional
In order to join this glacier hike and south coast day tour, good fitness is required, though no previous hiking or glacier experience is needed. The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 6 km (3.7 mi), over uneven terrain with moderate elevation changes on the glacier itself.

Footwear matters here: hiking boots with ankle support are required, and your shoe size needs to be EU 35 or larger, since crampons can’t be securely fitted to smaller footwear. It’s a long day covering a lot of ground, so expect a fair amount of time on the move between stops as well.

Want to see what else is in the area? Discover more Iceland adventures here!
You’re in for a proper tour of the south coast! We start at Skógafoss, a 60 m (197 ft) waterfall you can feel the spray from, with the option to climb the 527 steps alongside it for the view from the top. From there it’s on to Reynisfjara, the black sand beach backed by dramatic basalt columns. The heart of the day is the four-hour hike on Sólheimajökull glacier itself, where you’ll spot dark ash bands in the ice left behind by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. We close things out at Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall you can actually walk behind in summer, before heading back to Reykjavík.
No, this tour is beginner-friendly and open to first-timers. Good fitness is required, along with hiking boots with ankle support, and your shoe size needs to be EU 35 or larger so crampons can be securely fitted.
Gear:
- - Small day pack (20–30L)
  - Water bottle (at least 1L)
Clothing:
- - Sturdy hiking boots (required for crampon use)
  - Waterproof rain jacket and pants
  - Warm mid-layers (fleece/wool)
  - Hat and gloves
  - Sunglasses
Other:
- - Snacks and lunch
  - Camera or phone for photos (optional but highly recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

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Group sizes and pricing:
- - For this glacier tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 19:1.
  - The maximum group size is set at 19 participants.
  - Glacier hiking can be arranged for larger groups — contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors above the age of 8 may be permitted to join the glacier tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
  - If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your glacier and waterfalls adventure is Reykjavik. To get there, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Reykjavik. You will meet your guide at the designated pickup point in Reykjavik—we’ll reach out after booking to confirm the exact pick-up point. We can pick you up from a wide range of locations in Reykjavik to make your day as carefree as possible.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
- Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
- Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
- Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.

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